News of the Day From Around the World, March 10

Chronicle News Services

Published
3:17 pm PST, Saturday, March 9, 2019

1Kashmir conflict: India demanded Saturday that Pakistan take concrete steps against terrorists operating from its territory, while at the same time returning its top diplomat to Islamabad amid an easing of tensions between the nuclear rivals. Pakistan announced earlier this week that its high commissioner to India was returning to New Delhi, weeks after the two countries recalled their top diplomats for consultations as tensions flared after suicide attack on a convoy of Indian paramilitary soldiers in the Indian-held Kashmir that killed 40 soldiers. India blamed that attack on a Pakistan-based militant group, Jaish-e-Mohammed, and launched a retaliatory air strike inside Pakistan. Pakistan says it has arrested 44 people, including the brother of Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar

2France protests: Hundreds of protesters from France’s “yellow vest” movement marched Saturday for a 17th straight weekend in Paris and other cities to keep pressure on the government to reverse policies they see as favoring the rich. The numbers of protesters on the streets has diminished over the weeks, and polls have shown support by the French fading due to violence and damage that has marked some protests. The movement, named after the emergency vests the French are required to keep in their cars, held its first nationwide protest Nov. 17. The main complaint then was fuel tax hikes, but that long ago expanded to an array of demands. Calls for a citizens’ referendum is now among top demands on the list.

3Nigeria election: Nigerians went to the polls Saturday to choose governors in 29 of 36 states in Africa’s largest democracy amid reports of heavy military deployment, attacks against electoral facilities and at least seven deaths. The election came two weeks after the presidential vote in which incumbent Muhammadu Buhari won a second term. Some gubernatorial races had been expected to be more contentious as the two top political parties vie for control of powerful states that in certain cases have larger budgets than some African nations. Vote-buying for as little as 28 cents and a bar of soap was reported in northern Kano state, while observers and officials noted scattered incidents of thuggery and ballot-snatching.

4Vatican meeting: Pope Francis met Saturday with the leadership of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the first-such meeting of its kind, on the eve of the dedication of the church’s huge new temple in Rome. The Vatican offered no details of Francis’ audience with the church president, Russell Nelson, and 14 other leaders. The Latter-day Saints said it was the first-ever meeting between a pope and head of their church, and said the two men discussed religious liberty, family and youth among other topics. The new Mormon temple features an oval-shaped marble house of worship crowning a hilltop and a visitor center featuring a larger-than-life marble statue of Christ surrounded by smaller statues of the apostles.

5Cosmonaut honored: Yuri Gagarin, the first person to go into space, was honored Saturday in Moscow on what would have been the Soviet cosmonaut’s 85th birthday. Gagarin earned his title as space-travel pioneer on April 12, 1961, when he spent 108 minutes in space. He died seven years later at age 51 while piloting a doomed test flight for a fighter jet. His space flight was seen at the time as a Cold War-era triumph over the United States.